MIX08

MIX is a Microsoft web development conference we hold in Las Vegas each year.

MIX tends to be a pretty fun event, both because it covers cutting edge content (we used MIX07 to announce our Silverlight plans), and also because it tends to attract a really diverse set of attendees (including both those who use Microsoft technology today, and a large % of attendees who don't). The conference structure includes a healthy blend of sessions and interactive panels, and the layout and organization is designed to facilitate great conversations.

This year's MIX is being held March 5th-7th in Las Vegas. Ray Ozzie and I are both giving keynotes the first day of the event, and Steve Ballmer and Guy Kawasaki will be doing a keynote the second day of the event.

The conference (and especially my keynote) is going to cover a lot of new web technology. Attendees will be able to attend sessions covering:

Channel 9 recently did an interview with me where I talked about some of these new technologies. In Part 1 of the interview I talked about IIS7, and in Part 2 of the interview I talked about ASP.NET, WPF and Silverlight 2.

Register Soon Or You'll Miss Your Chance

MIX is held at a smaller venue then some of our larger events like TechEd and PDC. This gives the conference a more intimate feel (which is fun). It also means that it sells out each year, and once it is sold out it is really sold out.

Last year I received about 50 emails from people begging for tickets after it was full, and many people even flew to the event hoping to somehow be let in at the door (only to be unfortunately told they couldn't get in). Unfortunately because of size constraints (and fire marshal restrictions) once it is sold out there really are no more tickets to be had. Even my own team members get turned away if they haven't registered in time.

This year's registration is filling up faster than any of the previous MIX conferences. If you want to attend I highly recommend registering really soon to ensure you can go. You can learn more about the event and register online here.

Hope to see some of you there - it is going to be fun....

Scott

26 Comments

Hi,

You have not mentioned DLR and Dynamic languages as one of the sessions.

Are they not covered in MIX8...?

It seems to be such an important topic. DLR and Dynamic languages were introduced in MIX 2007.

Too bad I'll not be able to come this year as well: the previous year because my company didn't have enough "budget" to spend on conference registration and flight tickets/hotel accommodations. This year because, being just arrived in my new job, even if the company have the "budget" to send someone, there are many people before me that have the "right" to come to MIX (even if I guess nobody will come from my company to MIX).
So I guess I've to hope to win a ticket with the EU-INETA Silverlight challenge, or wait for the Re-MIX in Italy.

I'm using Silverlight 1.1 to develop an interactive web client for environment monitoring. And all I can say is - Silverlight rocks!
Unfortenately I'm still often nudged by the boundaries of the alpha version. So I am surprisignly waiting for your keynote at the MIX conference.

Thast a great news. But did I correctly read IE8 as the first point in you keynote.
I am feeling sorry for myself as I will not be able to come there, but still would wait to hear what you say in some video etc...

This will be my first big Microsoft event, other than the local MSDN events. I'm really looking forward to the expierence of the event, meeting developers and learning about the new technologies and direction of our platforms.

the previous two MIX events were great, at least from what I saw on the downloadable videos.
and this time I'm not too far away (I'll probably be in LA at the time) but the price is just too high
I guess it includes hotel costs but still

I'll definatly watch the sessions when they are availalbe online and maybe next time I'll attend in person

Mix '07 was a fantastic event. The knowledge I gathered about XAML/WPF and Silverlight helped us shape some of our development. In fact, we're going to reveal ((Echo))MyPlace, a WPF based geo-social networking experience, in the corridors of Mix '08 (and hopefully get a couple of minutes at Chris P. MSVE session).

Hi Scott!
I've watched the interview you gave to Channel 9 and as always, great news. I was particularly excited on Part 2 of the interview were you've talked about ASP.NET, WPF and, my favorite, Silverlight 2.
I recently just watched Beth Massi’s video on "How Do I: Use DataSets in an N-Tier Application?" and it a great new feature for VS 2008 and will make the use of dataset over n-tier application a lot more easy.
But I’m currently doing some experiments on Linq to SQL on an N-Tier scenario and it seems a lot more complicated than expected I've seen all your great posts on Linq To SQL but none of them talked about this scenario.
Are you considering post something on that subject? Using Linq to SQL on an N-Tier Application?
You talked about new improvements on Visual Studio integration for some of the new technologies. Are there going to be some new features added to Linq to SQL or to the O/R designer, related to this issue over the next months?
Thanks for all your work, your posts and videos.
Have a great Mix!

>>>>>> recently just watched Beth Massi’s video on "How Do I: Use DataSets in an N-Tier Application?" and it a great new feature for VS 2008 and will make the use of dataset over n-tier application a lot more easy. But I’m currently doing some experiments on Linq to SQL on an N-Tier scenario and it seems a lot more complicated than expected I've seen all your great posts on Linq To SQL but none of them talked about this scenario.

I'm planning on blogging more about LINQ to SQL in the future - but have been so busy with work the last few months that I haven't found the time to keep up.

There are a few good LINQ books starting to be published that cover it in more depth. LINQ in Action is one that just came out that has a lot of material on LINQ to SQL and might help in the interim: http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/1933988169?ie=UTF8&tag=scoblo04-20&linkCode=xm2&camp=1789&creativeASIN=1933988169

Scott thanks for your reply.
I will certainly look into the book you mention, most probably the eBook.
I just wanted to point it out that, when you do post something on "Linq to SQL on an N-Tier scenario", please consider not just the Web scenario (where the LINQDataSource control plays a major role) but the WinForms as well (considering a Smart Client App).
Thanks again!

Sorry to bug you but I have a quick Silverlight question. I'm using all the latest tools (VS2008 release, Silverlight 1.1, Alpha toolkit, etc). For some reason the "Add Silverlight Link..." right mouse choice on a web project doesn't work for me. I don't really need the link, I just need to know what is added to the csproj xml that makes it do what it does (I don't mind doing it manually).